Wow… is this really happening? Am I dreaming? This album is FINALLY released? Believe me, I’m just as shocked as you are.

But even though it feels like a dream, there’s really no going back now is there?

This album has been in the making for about 6 years now (yes, I started it even while I was finishing up my first album “Assault on Your Reckoning”). A lot of the lyrics were compiled over many years and it took me awhile to try to sort it all out to make some sense of it all. Some stuff from my old Platinum Dragon17 days, some stuff from my old DoublEdged days, and of course new material based on life experiences and the ups and downs that took place. It’s been a hell of a roller coaster ride which would really explain why this album was the longest album I’ve ever spent any time on. I think it’s fair to say that I’m extremely happy to have this weight lifted off my shoulders!

Now for those of you who were strapped in to this ride from the get-go, I salute you! And for those of you who just recently joined me on this unforgiving journey, welcome and please keep your hands and legs inside the vehicle at all times… I can’t promise you that it’s always going to be a smooth ride, but I can tell you that it’ll be interesting. Thank you all so very much for being a part of this with me and really being more than just fans to me. I seriously cannot even begin to express how grateful I am to have made such awesome friends along the way and without sounding all sappy, I really do cherish you all! Group hug!!!

It really did feel like this ride would never end… but really, has it ended? This is only the beginning for me and I’m already working on some new material for the next album as well as some other side projects I can’t wait to share with you when I can.

And now, without further a due… Allow me to make it all official.

*deep breath*

Breathing The Machine is officially released, and is ready to attack your ear holes!

So here’s the deal… “Breathing the Machine” is coming closer to completion and I’ve been tossing around a few ideas on how I want to release it… and I think I’ve figured it out:

I will release the full album in what I like to call “Story Mode” through a CD release. This “mode” or version will have crossfades and give you the experience I originally planned for this album.

I’m also going to be releasing it as a Digital Download. This version will be released as “Shuffle Friendly”, meaning it will have the same tracklist as the CD release but will not have it fading into one another… that way if you want to pick and choose the tracks you want to play you won’t have the previous track possibly bleeding into the start of the next track.

I’ve also been tossing around the idea of releasing “Breathing the Machine” in a Deluxe Edition exclusively sold through my website (once I figure out how I’ll actually do it). This edition will essentially be a bundle package of the full album on CD in “Story Mode”, the digital version in “Shuffle Friendly”, as well as the entire album as Instrumentals (digital download only). I will also personally sign each Deluxe Edition package and personally mail it out to you myself while you get to enjoy the digital version as you wait for the physical album in the mail.I still need to figure out how to do this method, but I swear I’ll figure it out!

Here’s where you come in. As we are now living in the digital age of downloads and CDs seem to be fading away into oblivion (which saddens me greatly), should I even consider releasing this album as a physical release or just as a download only album? Who here would actually be interested in having a physical copy of the album in their hands so they can listen to it the “old fashioned way”? I’m really only asking this because I want to do my best to invest however much I need to invest on the priorities. I don’t want to print 100 or more CDs and have them just sit in a box waiting to become a coaster at my family events or whatever…….. though they may make fun and deadly frisbees. The life of an independent artist!

So what say you? How do you feel about all this? I really do value your opinion and would love to hear back from you!

Oh and on a side note… if all goes as planned… this album will be release in the early weeks of summer…… just saying. And I’m really excited! It’s about damn time!